MILLERTON — Summertime has been both educational and fun for several dozen children between the ages of 3 and 12 who were able to learn more about creatures living in the wild through Nature Scouts at Rudd Pond.
The NorthEast-Millerton Library program, in collaboration with the Taconic State Park-Rudd Pond, the Sharon Audubon Society and the Amenia Free Library, will feature creepy-crawly insects on Thursday, Aug. 5, the pond itself on Friday, Aug. 6, and our feather friends on Thursday, Aug. 12.
All sessions run from 3 to 4 p.m. and begin at the Rudd Pond playground.
— Carol Kneeland
Holiday decorations bring cheer.
I just put the skeletons away — literally — into their neatly labeled Halloween plastic bins, along with the faux cobwebs, flickering lanterns and haunted houses that feature tiny tea lights. As I closed the lid, I found myself eyeing — albeit hesitantly — the Christmas décor.
We just voted, and now I’m sprinting toward Christmas? Too soon? Maybe. But before you judge, hear me out.
As an interior designer with a seasonal division, decorating restaurants, hotels and client homes fills the calendar long before December’s first flakes fall. While many of you are still working your way through leftover trick-or-treat candy, I’m busy fluffing garlands, steaming bows and untangling strings of lights that somehow tie themselves into sailors’ knots. Full inventory assessments are underway, batteries and extension cords are being tested, and by Thanksgiving or shortly after, every wreath, tree and ornament will be perfectly placed.
As for my own holiday décor? Well, it’ll likely go up somewhere between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, when I’ll be tiptoeing through my living room at 2 a.m., stringing lights and hoping I get even half of it up before I run out of time.
This year, I’m seriously considering pulling a page from my freshman daughter’s and college-aged niece’s book. Their bedrooms in our home are already little winter wonderlands — soft fairy lights, flocked mini trees, cozy throws, flannel sheets and all the sparkly magic of the season. It’s less “Santa’s Workshop” and more “quiet snow globe” — peaceful, pretty and brimming with cheer.
And honestly, who couldn’t use a bit more of that?
Truth be told, there’s some science behind it. Studies show that people who decorate earlier tend to be happier. Psychologists say it triggers nostalgic feelings, releases dopamine — the “happy hormone” — and brings back joyful memories from childhood. In other words, twinkling lights really do make life brighter.
Still, not everyone’s on board with decking the halls before the bird’s even in the oven. So, in the spirit of balance, let’s do a deep dive into the pros and cons.
The Pros of Decorating Early.
Longer enjoyment: You’ve spent time, energy and maybe a small fortune on décor — why not enjoy it for more than three weeks?
Less stress: Getting it done early means you can actually relax come December. Imagine that!
Instant cheer: The world feels a little kinder under twinkle lights.
Creative freedom: You’re not rushed. You can style and restyle until it feels just right.
Built-in motivation: Once it’s up, you’ll want to keep everything else organized and tidy. (It’s the decorator’s paradox.)
The Cons of Decorating Early.
Holiday burnout: Start too soon and you might be ready to take it all down before Santa even arrives.
Thanksgiving confusion: A turkey centerpiece under mistletoe just feels ... conflicted.
Peer pressure: Not everyone’s thrilled about jingling bells before mid-November.
Storage shuffle: Early decorating means the Halloween bins and Christmas bins battle for garage space.
Power bills: All those early twinkle lights can add up — financially and electrically.
For me, it’s a toss-up. I’m not hosting Thanksgiving — I do a big bash in October for our traditional Canadian Thanksgiving — so we’ll be at my in-laws’ here in Lakeville. That might give me just the breathing room I need to lean into the sparkle a little sooner.
But really, in the end, it isn’t about when the décor goes up — it’s about what it stirs inside us. The scent of pine, the glow of soft lights, the little moments that slow us down and remind us what we’re grateful for. Whether in November or December, if your holiday décor fills your home with peace and your heart with joy, that’s perfect timing.
Kerri-Lee Mayland is an Emmy award-winning news anchor and designer. She lives in Lakeville.
Black Crust Bakery uses organic, all-natural ingredients to make their bread.
Come to the Center on Main in Falls Village on Sunday, Nov. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m.,for an afternoon treat of fresh sourdough bread, local spreads, a selection of Harney & Sons tea, and good conversation.
Falls Village’s own Black Crust Bakery is also offering holiday-focused sourdough bread and croissants for all of your Thanksgiving (and snacking) needs.
Black Crust Bakery uses organic, non-GMO, high extraction flour combined with an aged sourdough starter, filtered water and Himalayan sea salt. All Black Crust Bakery bread is made by hand. Allowing time for fermentation provides the bread with a deep and complex flavor profile and makes it easier to digest. The bakery offers ancient grains like einkorn and kamut, and because of the minimal processing of these flours, many with gluten sensitivities are able to enjoy these ancient grain loaves.
This is a free event and purchases are not required.
WAMC’s Joe Donahue joined Devin McEwan and Sandra Boynton at the White Hart Inn in Salisbury on Nov. 13 to discuss the mother-son duo’s new book of holiday tipples, aptly titled “Extremely Happy Holidays.” Pleasantly buzzed guests swilled bubbles, wine and festive cocktails as McEwan explained how the book came to be: “I don’t know if it’s peer pressure if your mom is doing the pressuring,” he said of Boynton, his universally beloved illustrator and humorist mother. Boynton contributed her pictographic and design skills to McEwan’s dry humor and less-dry recipes for a snappy catalog of cocktails. The book is available at Oblong Books.
Volunteers with Townscape bring Millerton’s holiday glow to life, stringing lights along Main Street and preparing the towering tree at Routes 22 and 44 for the season.
MILLERTON – When the twinkling holiday lights appear throughout Millerton, it isn’t officials or a team of elves making the magic happen. It’s an all-volunteer group called Townscape, which spends an entire day testing and stringing lights, delivering boxes to businesses and raising every dollar needed to make it happen year after year.
Townscape was founded by Cathy Fenn, Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor, three residents whose vision and community spirit helped shape the village’s appearance for more than two decades.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” Fenn said.
Each year, Townscape installs holiday lights on both sides of Main Street across the business district, and on the towering tree at Routes 22 and 44. The lighting of that tree is reserved for the Festival of Lights, which happens right before the parade on the day after Thanksgiving. Donations from supporters cover the cost of installation and maintenance, helping Townscape fill the village with a cheerful winter glow.
“We hear all the time from people that they love coming to Millerton from Thanksgiving through March because it’s the brightest town – because of our lights,” said Townscape volunteer Christopher Baetz, who has volunteered since 2023.
The lights are stored through the winter, and in early November volunteers begin testing strand by strand. Townscape delivers boxes of lights to Main Street businesses so they can decorate their windows.
“As much as we can do, we do ourselves,” said volunteer Claire Goodman, who added that they outsource some of the higher branches to Stafford Tree Service, which assists each year with ladders, cherry pickers and equipment.
New this year is a garland of greenery along the Webatuck bridge, organized by artist and Townscape secretary Teri Goetz.
Originally formed as a volunteer committee in 1998 and officially adopted by the Village of Millerton as nonprofit in 2007, Townscape has long been a force for beautification and community pride.
“It’s not just the lights,” said Fenn. “There’s a lot that goes on between flowers, benches, tables and even serving as an advisory committee of sorts to certain projects in town. We have an absolutely fantastic group of volunteers on Townscape right now.”
